FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: Gretchen Whitmer for Michigan Governor
Gretchen Whitmer is a proven fighter, can mobilize people to take on our big problems, and will challenge the status quo in Lansing to get things done for all Michiganders. As a mom, former legislator, and prosecutor, she’ll fight for the things that matter to people and put them first.
Whitmer learned from her parents – her Mom a Democrat, her Dad a “Milliken” Republican – that you’ve got to be willing to listen to everyone, and above all, you put people ahead of politics.
Gretchen gets things done. She has a record of bringing people together to solve tough problems, like helping negotiate the Healthy Michigan Medicaid expansion, which expanded health care to 630,000 working Michiganders.
She’s not afraid to stand up to anyone who’s in the wrong. Whitmer spoke out against leaders of both parties when they stole money from the state education fund and failed to lift up poor- performing schools.
She brought workers, labor unions, and businesses together to ght anti-worker legislation. When Governor Snyder and Republicans tried to pass the bill without any public hearings – even going so far as locking the doors of the Capitol – Whitmer threw open the doors and led the protest from her of ce so people could have their voices heard.
In 2016, Whitmer stepped up again and served as Ingham County Prosecutor, restoring faith in the of ce after the elected prosecutor was forced to resign amidst a scandal. She cleaned up a mess and implemented stronger ethics standards. And she established a new Domestic Violence Unit, sped up the rehabilitation of non-violent rst time offenders, and asked the Michigan State Police to investigate the integrity of the county’s evidence room.
A lifelong Michigander, Whitmer was raised in Grand Rapids and East Lansing. A proud product of our public schools and universities, she built a life close to home – even moving into a house in the same neighborhood where she grew up. She knows that education and economic opportunity are linked. That’s one of the reasons she supports access to early childhood education – so every child can get a strong start.
During her rst term in the state legislature, Gretchen was the caretaker for her mother, when she was dying of brain cancer – all while giving birth to and caring for her rst daughter. That’s one of many reasons Whitmer fought for paid family leave so workers can take time off to care for a sick loved one or new baby and why she took a stand for equal pay for equal work.
Gretchen’s favorite childhood memories involve the water: swimming with her brother and sister
in the Thornapple River, shing for perch off the dock in Onekama, and climbing the dunes on Lake Michigan. She’s committed to protecting Michigan’s heritage, including the Great Lakes, and fighting for government transparency to ensure that we never allow our drinking water to be poisoned again.
As Governor, Gretchen won’t back down from the tough fight, will challenge both parties to do what’s right, and will keep listening to the people as she mobilizes Michigan for change on the important issues.
Gretchen lives in East Lansing with her husband Marc, daughters Sherry and Sydney, and stepsons Alex, Mason and Winston.
https://www.gretchenwhitmer.com
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